Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-05-10: WAIT → RULE

Date: 2026-05-10

WAIT → RULE

Difficulty: Medium Goal Steps: 6 4 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects WAIT to RULE in 6 steps. This 4-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 WAIT → WALT

Change the 3rd letter I to L, turning WAIT into WALT.

Step 2 WALT → SALT

Change the 1st letter W to S, turning WALT into SALT.

Step 3 SALT → SALE

Change the 4th letter T to E, turning SALT into SALE.

Step 4 SALE → SOLE

Change the 2nd letter A to O, turning SALE into SOLE.

Step 5 SOLE → ROLE

Change the 1st letter S to R, turning SOLE into ROLE.

Step 6 ROLE → RULE

Change the 2nd letter O to U, turning ROLE into RULE.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 2: 2, pos 3: 1, pos 4: 1. Most-changed position: 1, 2 (2).

Change sequence: 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 2.

Letter mix: V→V 2, V→C 1, C→V 1, C→C 2.

Word stats: 7 words, 10 unique letters. Start/target share 0 positions.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both WAIT and RULE first. This ladder needs 6 moves, and the endpoints already share 0 letter positions—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 3 from I to L first, but saves position 2 (O to U) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, SALE matches 2 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 and 2 most often.

Practice prompt: choose two unfamiliar bridge words, check their definitions, and write a short sentence for each. Then replay WAIT to RULE without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.